Jacob's Ladder

Next project minus the borders

This has been a fun and fast project. I have wanted to make a Jacob's Ladder for several years, but just never got around to it. A few months ago I saw a tutorial on-line and decided it was time to think about it. I made the blocks from fat quarters that came in packets that I never used on another project, or from left-over other projects. A fat quarter will make 2 blocks, so I set one in the left-over yellow from my Dorinda quilt and matched the mottled look in gold. Next I set the blocks opposite each other and made a four block larger block. It is roughly 60 X 80 inches at this point. I haven't decided what to do for the borders, but am leaning to using the gold, as I still have some fabric left over. The yellow is gone, so I can't use any of that.

Civil War Top complete

Here are the last 5 blocks and the finished top

This is block #49. It is called Yankee Puzzle, a subject of concern was Lincoln's philosophy of Liberty and Union. Was it possible?

Block # 50 is "Grapes of Wrath" (sorry it is so blurred) This block represents the song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". The story behind the poem, and later the music is it set to...Julia Ward Howe was on a trip to Washington DC and the song "John Brown's Body" was a favorite marching song for the troops. She was disturbed by the words, thinking the music needed something more patriotic. When she returned home, she wrote the poem which was set to the music of the marching song.

Block 51 is called "New York" remembering the ladies of New York who held bazaars and other fundraisers to aid the soldiers.

Block # 52 is called "Christmas Star" in remembrance of the first Christmas of the Civil War.

And the final block #53 (there were 53 Saturdays in 2011) is called "Union Shield" a symbol used in many quilts and samplers during the 1860's and '70's.

The blocks are 8.5 inches square, and I wanted to make a King sized quilt, so I made several blocks with different fabric, and came up with 80 blocks. I set them 8 across and 10 rows down. I probably should have mitered the corners, but with the pattern in the border print, I was afraid I would not be able to match them exactly, so they are not mitered. The quilt is being held side-ways view, with the top corner on the upper right corner. The corner blocks are all the same pattern, but with different fabric, so they do not look much alike.

This was a fun project. I am glad it is done to this point. I have to find fabric to put on the back. I will probably give this one to one of Vonda's children, as Robert served in South Carolina while he was in the Navy. He came home with a Rebel flag, and loved the history he learned while there.

I made progress this week -- Deana

I am SO EXCITED to have finally made some quilting progress.  Below are photo updates of what I accomplished this week.
I spent most of the week creating this next block for my "Quilted Barns".  This block goes in the Daughters of Dorinda Mystery project.  I am pleased with how it is coming along.  All of the tiny bridge pieces were turned under and glued together until I could stitch them down.  I still have about 1/3 left to hand stitch.  I will also add some thread painted thinner bars to add more detail to the bridge. 

I further intend to applique a horse and buggy on the road. 

I put a plastic spoon in the picture to give you an idea how tiny those bridge pieces are.

Below are three blocks that are partially done for the Block Lotto this month.  I need to get to a copy center to get an accurate template for template A.  My printer chops off the bottom edge of it, so I will have to get the template another way.  I would LOVE to win this quilt.  It is so me!  I have three more blocks cut out and want to do a total of 9.

Next are three blocks for my Omigosh quilt.  I loved the one I made for Linda so much that I just must have one for myself.  These blocks will finish at 4 1/2" each.  (spoon dimension again).

Next, I completed one more Dear Jane block.  I think it is SO DARN CUTE!   

F-5 is called Parcheesi.  It took me 1 hour and 42 min. today and has 25 pieces. 

I paper pieced and hand appliqued it.

I have spent a total of 60 hours and 50 min on my Dear Jane Quilt

So far it has 1,513 pieces.

Swap Party Entry - "Winged Things"

Come join the SWAP PARTY

by clicking on the link here or on my sidebar.  Thearica is challenging us to finish up those old blocks we acquired from swaps.  I have a few of those piles.  There are prizes and everything.

I chose to work on "Winged Things".  Here are the quilt labels to show who made blocks in 2003 and 2004.

This project began as a state needle-turn applique round robin. I pieced all the backgrounds and asked the ladies (there were only 3)to applique a "winged thing" on them ("No aircraft," I requested).  Each of those three ladies made two blocks.  The blocks were OUTSTANDING! I just didn't have enough of them so I joined another round robin the following year and asked for more "winged things" but this time it was not a needle-turn group.


This is what the blocks looked like in January 2011. 

With the help of Judy's UFO challenge by the end of January I was able to get them assembled into a top with borders, but I have not even started any quilting on it yet.

Many of the ladies I never met because we swapped through the mail.  There was one, however, who is a very dear friend.  Loretta moved further South and I rarely ever see or keep in touch with her.  I have fond memories of our weekly sew sessions at her home.  She made the angel block on the top right AND the bird bath block near the bottom center.  She is truly an angel in real life -- I love her!!

The beehive block is significant because it stands for Utah - the beehive state.  We are called the busy bees for our hard working communities.  The lady who made the beehive block also made the birdhouse block.  Her workmanship is astounding as well.

Wish me luck!

Update on Dorinda Mystery...

I wanted to post the progress quilts of our Dorinda Mystery project for 2011.
Mine is called the Quilted Barn.

Ann's is called Autumn Country.




Marie's is called Optical Illusions -- her latest block...

And the rest of her quilt...

Lyn's is called Small Town Winter.

And her latest block...

Below are two parts of Stephanie's forest.


Dorine's is called Birds.

And this block will be added soon.

Tracy's is called Country Traditions.



There are many others, but these are all Daughters of Dorinda who participated.  It has been so much fun to meet new quilters and enjoy a project together.

The result of the cracker jack block...

I posted a picture of a cracker jack block I made in December here.

Now I can reveal its purpose.  The Block Lotto participants made a quilt for the Lotto's creator, Sophie.  She was having an extremely difficult season of life, so some fabulous ladies put together a group to make her this quilt.  You can see my block in the second row.  We each selected a past Block Lotto block for our pattern.  We were to follow the color rules of the original Block Lotto block.

If you are interested in the Block Lotto, the January block complete with instructions can be found here.  I just LOVE this month's block.  I hope I get it done soon.

2011 summary for Deana

I did not get as much done this year as last, but at least I made progress.  I was going strong and hard on my goals until the month before Girl's Camp and then I guess I got too busy.

I am counting 13 finishes this year for me.  Here is the breakdown:

5  Quilts quilted for others
     (2 monsters, Star Crazy, Tracy's Jacob's Ladder, Layer Cake)
4  Completely finished quilts for me
     (minis, Crackerjacks, Brown Bag, Flowers for Jessi)
3   Tops done (picket fence, Christmas Hexagon, Winged Things)
1  Quilt done for Linda Johnson - Omigosh wallhanging

I also made the following progress on other projects:

-3 months participation in the Block Lotto making a total of 8 blocks
   (flowers, hearts, and red/white D4P)
-19 Dear Jane blocks completed
- 1 Snowman embroidery block (snowball fight)
- 8 blocks completed for the Dorinda Mystery
-1 block made for Sophie's surprise quilt at the block lotto

Ruffled Roses top FINISHED!

Wow, it is the last week of December, but I finally got the Ruffled Roses top completed.

The last set of swag borders. Finally have the hang of it, so this did not take too long to do.

Then they had to be set in a long border for each of the four sides. By the time I got them all together and pressed, I was ready for a break.

But I still had the corners to do. These are all appliqued, but I did them by machine, with a blanket stitch. If I had done them by hand, I would still be working on the center corners.

And FINALLY, ALL the borders and corners are set in place, pressed, and ready to be quilted. The pattern has the option of the little purple berries to be added to the wider green sashing. They are to sit at the peak of each swag. I pinned one on to see how I liked it, but I preferred to leave it bare. I like it better this way.

My helpers are not tall enough to hold it high enough to get the whole thing straight, but you get the idea of what it looks like. I have enjoyed this project, as it has been a challenge for me. I am glad I did it, but don't know if I want to try another one just yet. Susan Gorman likes little tiny pieces and really small HSTs. For now, I am happy with what I have done.

9th Annual Christmas Quilt Swap

I made the Omigosh quilt for Linda.  She cried and then I cried.  She has really wanted one but hasn't been able to get going on it.

Linda made this beautiful 30s dresdom quilt for Deb.  Deb loves 30s.  I love how it is a larger quilt.

Here is the back of it.  Linda quilted it so beautifully.

Deb made Theresa a lone star mounted in an old window from.  I love it!

Theresa made me this beautiful flower wall hanging out of batiks.  I LOVE  batiks!!

...and here is the back side.  It is quilted beautifully!

Faye made this for Mariella on her embroidery machine.  She does beautiful work.  It is lovely redwork.

Mariella made this darling little quilt for Faye.  I am so impressed with it.

Here is the group for this year, except me because I was behind the camara.  Left to right is Deb, Mariella, Faye, Theresa, and Linda.  They are wonderful friends and amazing quilters. 

This is the 9th year of Our Christmas Wallhanging swap gifts.  The participants have changed here and there, but we are still going strong.

A completed project by Deana

I finished an Omigosh wall quilt for Linda this week.  I loved it so much that I can't wait to start my own soon.  The smallest pieces finish at 1/2" square.  This quilt is so nuts but so adorable.  The edges are ruffled because I photographed it before I did the handwork on the binding.  I was not able to get a good photo with the binding complete because I was in a hurry to give it to her.